So after living in a rain forest for the past 3 months I have learned a few things that I would like to share with you......should you too one day decide to live in a rain forest.

When it rains it rains hard. Harder than anything that I have experienced in the states or even in the Caribbean. And when it hits the roof and the surrounding trees and leaves it is el ohh you dee....LOUD. And when you combine that with lightning storms the satellite TV goes out. That gives you time to step out on the covered patio and take a deep breath of the cool fresh jungle air.

Frequently clean your rooftop and clear the drains of leaves at least every two weeks.

If you leave clothing out to dry be sure to shake it out because some insect or spider may have taken up residence or hidden there. Same goes for shoes left outside.

Be sure to air out your closets to prevent mold and mildew. I had 4 pairs of long dungarees hanging up in a closed closet, all touching each other. For about 3 months there was never any reason to go into that closet to wear those long dungarees. Once day I opened the closet and found white speckles all over them. Turns out it was mildew. I was able to clean them in hot water and soap. I found out that they should be hung with some space between them. The closet should be aired out frequently. It's all about air circulation and possible keeping the humidity down. If you don't have a dehumidifier then air conditioning will do.

Don't reach under old leaves or rocks, or under old fallen trees or branches without looking. That's also where spiders and snakes like to hang out. We still have not seen a snake but we also have not been trying to see a snake.

Plants grow really fast here. The land is really fertile and we are seeing first hand just what that means. We planted a few fruit trees to attract more birds and animals and we are startled to see just how fast they are growing. One of the trees had it's leaves taken completely away by leaf cutter ants before we were able to put some pest control around it. Five days later the leaves grew completely back. This dry season saw many leaves coming off of the trees, some had lost about 95%. After just 3 hard rains the leaves all grew back. It was amazing to see.

The frogs love the jacuzzi. You must maintain proper chlorine levels to keep them from coming back. After a heavy rain the chlorine level could drop to very little.

The hills are very steep and we have incorporated them in our daily workout. Great for the calves, thighs, and butt. Great cardio too. If you run out of energy you can make it easier on yourself if you traverse the hill-sort of like skiing down a steep hill-go side to side walking up at an angle or zig zag. It really does work.

Don't put the garbage out at night. We have had raccoons, pizotes, and foxes knock over our garbage pails.

If you notice a bad odor coming from an outdoor supply room check for dead or decaying animals. We found a decomposing gekko in ours.

Keep your screen doors closed especially at night when you're cooking.

You will need a pair of high rubber boots. Flip flops are good when it's not raining. Sneakers sometimes. No high heels, no Jordans, no designer shoes.

Don't let the rain stop you from enjoying outdoor activities except for sunbathing.

Accept the fact that it will rain, rain hard, and rain often. So that's how it got so green and lush. That's why everything grows so tall. That's why there's no water shortage. That's why there's so much wildlife. Of course, it's been only 3 months with the heavy rain still to come in the months of September and October.  That reminds me.............bring plenty of books and DVD's for the time that you have to be inside.

Pura Vida?  Time will tell.